Residents split on 740 change

Majority of area code members favor overlay

6:40 AM,
Dec. 2, 2013

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If southeastern Ohio residents had their pick, newcomers would receive a different area code and current 740 customers would keep their phone numbers - even if that meant dialing a few more digits.

Nearly 7 in 10 people who sent comments to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio preferred an overlay, which would require residents to dial 10 digits for local calls but retain their phone numbers, over a split, which would require half the residents to obtain a new area code but allow customers to dial seven digits.

The change is necessary because the 740 area code likely will run out of available ...